Float-operated electric-switch-actuating mechanism



April 17, 1928.

C. W. LINDEMANN FLOAT OPERATED ELECTRIC SWITCH ACTUATING MECHANISM 2Sheets-Sheet 1 fizv/vtoi Filed April 1926 alternately,

Patented Apr. 17, 1928.

CLARENCE W. LINDEMANN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOB- TO CHICAGO IUHPCOMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A

CORPORATION or ILLmoIs.

FLOAT-OPERATED nnncrmc-swrrcn-ac'roarme laminar.

Application filed April 0,

This invention relates to float operated electric switch actuatingmechanism, and its principal object is to provide automatic means forclosing the electric switches for the motors of electrically operatedpumps or other apparatus, in a regular sequence, and opening saidswitches when the pump or other apparatus has performed its work.

In many situations it is customary to employ two pumps, as for example,bilge pumps, for the same well or reservoir, one or the other of thepumps beingoperated at a time, to pump excess water out of the well orreservoir when the level thereof reaches a predetermined height, theother pump serving as an auxiliary pump, in case the volume of wateraccumulating in the well or reservoir is greater than the capacity ofthe pump, the auxiliary pump t ereupon serving to aid the other pump inremoving the excess water.

To minimize the wear and tear on each pump, manually operated means havebeen provided for causing the pumps 'to operate the quiescent oneserving as the pump and operating only when the leve of the waterreaches an abnormal height. One of the objects of the present inventionis to rovide automatic means for alternately closing the electricswitches for the two pumps and operating toclose the switches of bothpumps in case the water reaches a high level, whereby-both pum s mayoperate simultaneously to discharge t e excess water. Other objects andadvantages will appear in the course of this specificat on. and with allof said objects and advantages in view, this invention consists in afloat operated electric switch actuating mechanism for a plurality ofthe motors of pumps or other apparatus, and having automatically actingmeans for actuating the switches alternately. It further consists infloat operated switch actuating mechanism of the kind specified, inwhich the automatic switch actuating means is arranged to actuate bothswitches on an up stroke of the float, one switch being operated whenthe float reaches a predetermined height, and the other switch beingoperated when the float reaches a higher predetermined height. Theinvention further consists in the several novel features hereinafterfully set forth and claimed.

auxiliary 192a. aerial no. 100,795.

The invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings, inwhich:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a float op-.

mechanism embodyerated switch actuating inga simple form of the presentinvention; Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the switch autuating mechanismshown upona lar er scale; Fig. 3 is a detail horizontal section taken onthe line 3-3 of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a detail horizontal section taken onthe line 4-4 of Fig. 2; Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the switchactuating mechanism showing the parts in a different position from thatseen in Fig. 2; Fig. 6 is a front elevation of the switch actuatingmechanism; Fig. 7 is an enlarged side elevation of one of the switchlever units employed; and Fig 8 is a side elevation of the unit seen inig..7 but looking at the op osite side thereof.

Referring to said rawings, which illustrate a sim le embodiment of thepresent invention, the reference characters A, B, designate two electricswitches of common and well known form, which are connected to themotors of two motor driven pumps (not shown) that may be used forpumping water or other liquid from one and the same well or reservoir.The capacity of each pump is usually suflicient to pump excess waterfrom the well or reservoir when it reaches a predetermined level, and.two pumps are employed so that in case one becomes inoperative the otherone may func- .tion, and also in order that one may act as an switchesmay be mounted on any suitable support 10, and are operated by a float11,

contained in the well or reservoir, and con nected to the switch leversa, b, of the switches b a float rod 12 and the switch actuatingmechanism forming the subject matter of this specification. Preferablythe float rod 12 is guided in a tubular guide 13 mounted V by upper andlower on the cover or top 14 of the well or reservonr. I

In the, form of the invention illustrated, the float rod 12 has securedto it, two switch actuating rods 15, arranged parallel with the floatrod 12, and secured thereto cross members 16,- secured to the rods 15,15 and collars 17, one located on each side of one of the cross memloersand secured to the float rod by set screws, as shown. it will beunderstood that the switch actuating rods 15, 15 move in unison with thefloat rod. Upon each rod 15, 15 is a collar 18, 18, either fixed theretoor yieldingly supported thereon, as by a coiled compression spring19,-surrounding the rod and resting on acollar 20, secured to the rodloy a set screw. lFixedly secured on each rod 15, 15, at points abovethe collars 18, are other collars 21, 21, and between said collars 18,21, of each rod 15, 15 is one of the switch levers a, which is arrangedto be actuated by said collar 18.

Each switch lever a, or b, is part of a switch actuating unit A, B andas both units are practically alike a description of one will suflicefor both. Each switch actuating lover a or I) has an eye 22 thatsurrounds its associated rod 15 or 15 at a lace between the collars 18,21. llnterposed hetween the switch lever a or b and the associatedcollar 18, 1S automatically acting means for rendering the collarinefi'ective for the purpose of actuating the associated switchactuating unit on the alternate up strokes of the fioat rod, and formaking it effective for that purpose on the intermediate up strokes, orperforming said functions in any other desired sequence.

As shown, the means for efiecting this result, comprises a lever arm 23pivotally. connected to the outer end of the switch lever by a bolt orother pivotal connection 24, a ratchet wheel 25 rotativel mounted on oneof the members a or .5 an 23, a dog 26 mounted on the associated memberand spring pressed into engagement with the ratchet wheel 25 by a spring26*, and a strut or star wheel 27, rigidly connected with the ratchetwheel and adapted to occupy an active or primary position or an inactiveor secondary .position with respect to the member on which the dog ismounted. 1n the present instance, tatively mounted on theswitch leverand the dog is mounted on the arm, 23. Both the ratchet wheel and strutor star wheel 27 are rigidly secured on a pin 28 which passes through abearing aperture in the lo er a or b and a spring pressed pawl or detent29 engages the ratchet wheel 23 and prevents retrograde movementthereof. The strut or star wheel 27 is formed with radially extendingarms, the outer end oi each one of which is arranged to engage the armthe ratchet wheel is ro-' accuses the arm is moved upward, the switchlever will be moved therewith as a part of the unit. In the inactive orsecondary position of the strut or star wheel the outer ends of its armsdo not encounter the lug on the arm 23, when said arm 23 is movedupward, but said arm moves up idly through a predetermined distance,therebyw permitting the associated switch lever to remain idle duringsaid idle upward movement of the arm 23. To insure a positive connectionbetween the strut or starwheel 27, the outer ends of its arms arepointed and a V-shaped notch is formed inthe arm 23 or its lug 23 intowhich the pointed end of the strut or star wheel arm enters. lt will heobserved that whenever the arm 23 is swung upward on its pivot 24, itfirst has a slight idle upward movement before it strikes the protrudingarm of the strut or star wheel, and during said idle movement the dog 26moves upward the distance between two teeth of the ratchet wheel 25,whereby on the downward movement of the arm 23- the dog'26 may turn theratchet wheel and therewith the strut or star wheel one step, bringing aspace between the arms of the strut or star wheel abovethe notched lugof the arm 23,

lUU

counters the eye 22 of the switch lever (see I Fig. 5), after whichupward movement of the arm 23 and switch lever will proceed as a unit.

From the above it will be seen, that in one position of the strut orstar wheel, the float rod may move upward for a considerable distanceafter the collar18 has engaged the arm 23, before it commences to swingthe switch lever upward, and that in the other position of the starwheel the switch lever is swung upward almost immediately after thecollar 18 encounters the arm 23. The result is that in the activevor primary position of the strut or star wheel, the switch is closed when thelevel of the water reaches a predetermined height in the well orreservoir, and in the inactive or secondaryiposition of the strut orstar wheel, the switch is not closed until the level of the waterreaches a higher place.

The arm 23 extends to the switch actuating rod audit has an evevor fork30 that is arranged to be engagedhy the collar 18 during theup stroke ofthe float. Secured to the arm 23 is a strut 31 which extends upward andhas a bent end that engages around the rod 15, or 15, and is adapted toI and out 0 be encountered by the collar 21 on the .down stroke of thefloat. When engaged by the collar 21 on its down stroke the strut andtherewith the arm and switch actuating lever are moved downward. Thestrut may be provided with adjustment means whereby dthe position of itsupper end may be varie The struts or star wheels 27 of the two switchactuating units are set so that one is in active or primary positionwhile the other is in inactive or secondary position, and in theoperation of the mechanism, the float, on reaching the predeterminedheight (governed by the level of the water in the well or reservoir) hasraised the float rod therewith the collars 18, brought them into contactwith both arms 23, and swung upward both arms 23. The switch actuatingunit in which the strut or star wheel occupies an active position, istherefore swung upward as a unit until the switch is closed. therebyclosing the circuit to'the associated pump motor and setting the pump inoperation. This takes place before the lever of the other switchactuating unit has been swung upward any considerable distance. The umpbeing started, water is pumped i the well or other reservoir, and as thelevel of the water lowers, the float, float rod and associated parts,including the collars 18, 21, are lowered, and the arm 23 of theinactive switch actuatin unit drops to normal position. When t e floatreaches its lower limit the collar 21 encounters the strut 31, therebydepressing it and the arm 23 of the active unit and opening the switch.As the arms 23 move downward, their dogs 26 engage the ratchet wheels 25and advance them one tooth, thereby reversing the active positions ofthe struts or star wheels 27, so that upon the next up stroke of thefloat,-tho unit which has been idle becomes the active unit and closesits associated switch. Regardless of which unit is active in closing itsswitch, if the water continues to rise a ove the predetermined level,and the one active pum is unable to discharge the excess water rom thewell or other reservoir faster than it accumulates, the float continuesto rise and lifts the float rod until the proper collar 18 has swungupward the idle unit and closed the switch to the other pump, therebysetting both pumps'in operation. When the float falls to normal positionboth units are swung down as before, and both switches opened. The strutor star wheels are also actuated as before. The upper movement of theswitch actuating levers a, h, is iimited by the housings of theswitches, and the springs 19, under the collar which closes the firstswitch, permits the two connected switch actuating rods 15, 15, to moveupward, and therewith the other collar 18, whereby said, collar maycontinue to move upward and close the open switch in case of necessity.The float rod and connections between the float rod and switch actuatingrods may be omitted, and each switch actuating rod may be provided witha float whereby each switch actuating rod may move independently of theother.

ore or less variation of the exact details of construction is possiblewithout departing from the spirit of this invention; I de sire,therefore, not to limit myself to the exact form of the constructionshown and described, but intend, in the following claims, to point outall of the invention disclosed herein.

I claim as new and desire to secure by Lettcrs Patent:

1. In float operated electric switch actuating mechanism, thecombination of an electric switch and its switch lever, a float and itsfloat rod, and connecting mechanism between said float rod and switchlever including an operating strut interposed between the float rod andswitch lever and having an active position for transmitting motion fromthe float rod to the switch lever when the float reaches a predeterminedhigh level, said operating for transmitting motion from the float rod tothe switch lever when the float reaches a difstrut having a secondaryposition ferent predetermined high level, and auto matically operatingmeans for setting'said operating strut into active and secondarypositions in regular sequence.

2. In float operated electric switch actuating tric switch and itsswitch lever, a float and its float rod. and connecting mechanismbetween said float rod and switch lever, comprising an operating strutinter osed between the float rod and switch ever and. having an activeposition for transmitting motion from the float rod to the switch lever,and a secondary position, and automatically acting means operated bythefloat rod for alternately setting said operating strut in activeposition.

3. In float operated switch actuating mechanism, the combination of anelectric switch and its switch lever, a float and its float rod, andautomatically operating means interposed between the float rod andswitch lever for actuating the switch lever in two positions of thefloat, comprising a lever openating member, having two spaced apartoperative positions at which it is operatively engaged by the float rod.and automatically operating setting means for setting said leveroperating member in one of said positions.

4. In float operated switchactuating mechanism, the combination of anelectric switch and its switch lever, a float and its float rod, andautomatically operating lever actuating means interposed between thefloat rod and switch. lever, for actuating the switch lever mechanism,the combination of an elec- Ill in two positions of the float, strutmounted on the switch lever and hav-- ing an active lever actuatingposition and an inactive position, and automatically operating means forsetting said strut in active and inactive positions; said means beingoperated by the float rod, and arranged to actuate the switch leverthrough said strut, in one position. of the float, and to actuate theswitch lever without said strut in a second position of the float.

5. In float operated electric switch actuating mechanism, thecombination of an electric switchand its switch lever, a float and itsfloat rod, an arm pivotally connected to said switch lever, a star wheelrotatively mounted on said switch lever and having an active positionfor engagement with said arm, and an inactive position, and means tilloperated by saidarm "for setting said star wheel in active and inactivepositions, and a shoulder on said float rod arranged to en; gage andactuate said arm when moved up ward by the float.

6. lln float operated switch actuating mechanism, the combination of anelectric switch and its switch lever, a float and its float rod, a leveroperating collar on said float rod, a lever operating arm pivotallymounted on said lever, and having two operative positions, and adaptedto be actuated by said collar in two positions or" the float, a starwheel rotatively mounted on said switch lever, and having an activeposition engaging -said arm to hold it in a spaced position relative tothe lever, and aninactive position,

a ratchet wheel connected to said star wheel, and a dog connected tosaid arm and en= gaging said star wheel lln float operated switchactuating mech= amsm, the combination of an electric switch and itsswitch lever, a float and its float rod,

upper and lower collars on said float rod, a

lever actuating arm pivotally connected to the switch lever and having apart lying in the path of the upward movement of the lower collar andarranged to be actuated thereby, an upstanding member secured to saidarm and having a part lying in the path oil the downward movement of theupper collar and arranged .to be depressed thereby, and arm holdingmeans interposed between said switch lever and arm, having an activeposition engaging said arm and holding it 1n widely spaced relation tothe switch lever, and havmgan inactlve position permitting ,movernentolsaid arm relative to the switch lever, and automatically operating meansoperated by said arm, for setting said arm holding means,

8.. In float operated switch actuating mechanism, the combination of anelectric switch and its switch lever, a float and its float rod, upperand lower collars on said float rod, a

comprising a the path of the upward neeaeee lever actuating arm ivotallyconnected to the switch lever and aving a part lying in movement of thelower collar and arranged to be actuated thereby, a verticallyadjustable upstanding member secured to said arm and having a partlyingcin the path of the downward movement of the upper collar andarranged to be depressed thereby, and arm holding means interposedbetween said switch lever and arm, having an active position engagingsaid arm andholdin it in widely spaced relation to the switch lever, andhaving an in active position permitting movement of said arm relative tothe switch lever, and automatically operating means operated by saidarm, for setting said arm holding means.

9. lln a float operated electric-switch actuating mechanism, thecombination of a plurality of electric switches and their switch leyers,a float and its float rod, and connecting mechanism, between the floatrod and switch levers for operat-ively connecting the float rod withsaid switch levers in a predetermined sequence, each connectingmechanism including an operating member havin an active and an inactiveposition, an means for actuating said operating member, the operatingmember of one connecting mechanism alternatin with the one of the otherconnecting mechanism to connect the float rod with said switch levers,in a predetermined sequence.

10. In a float operated electric switch actuating mechanism, thecombination of a lurality of electric switches and their switch levers,a float and its float rod, and connecting members between the float rodand switch levers l'or operatively connecting the float rod with saidswitch levers in alternate sequence, each connecting member having analternately active and inactive strut, and the active position ofone'strut alternating with that of the other, whereby one connectingmember actuates an associated switch lever each time the float is raisedto a predet'ermined level, the one connecting member al-' ternating withthe other in the successive up strokes of the float. I

11. In a float operated electric switch actuating mechanisimthecombination of a plurality of electric switches and their switch levers,a float and its float rod, lever actuating arms,

one pivotally connected to each switch lever, means mounted on the floatrod alternately set it in active and inactive positions, on successiveup strokes of said arm actuating means of the float rod.

12. In float operated electricswitch actuating mechanism, thecombination of apluralityof electric switches and their switch levers, afloat and its float rod, lever actuating arms, one pivotally connectedto each switch lever, means mounted on the float rod for actuating saidarms, star wheels, one rotat-ively mounted on each switch lever andhaving arms arranged to successively engage the associated leveractuating arm, and a dog mounted on each lever actuating arm arranged toadvance the associated star wheel in a step by step manner, said starwheel having inactive positions, wherein said lever actuatlng armremains temporarily inactive.

'13, In float operated switch actuating mechanism, the combination withtwo electric switches and their switch levers, a float, and its floatrod,-switch actuating rods, one for each switch lever, mounted on saidswitch rod, collars, one 'yieldably mounted on each switch actuatingrod, and alternately operating switch actuating means, one for eachswitch lever, interposed between said switch levers and switch actuatingrods, and including members arranged to be engaged by said collars.

14. In float operated switch actuating mechanism, the combination withtwo electric switches and their switch levers, a float,

and its float rod, switch actuating rods, one

for each switch lever, mounted on said switch .by, of a connecting starrod, collars, one yieldably mounted on each switch'actuating rod, leveractuating arms, one pivotally connected to each switch lever and lyingin the path of an associated collar, and alternately acting connectingmeans between each switch lever and its associated actuating arm. I 1

15. The combination with a reciprocating element andan elementwhich isto be actuated thereby, of a connecting member interposed between saidelements, and having two spaced apart operative positions 'fortransmitting motion from said first mentioned element to the secondnamed element and automatically operating setting means for setting-saidmemberin at least one of said operative positions.

16. The combination with a reciprocating element and an element to beactuated therebyfof a connecting member-interposed between saidelements, and having an active position for transmitting motion fromsaid first mentioned element to the second named element, and asecondary active position, and setting means for intermittently settingsaid connecting member in active position.

17. The combination with a reciprocating element and an element to beactuated therewheel member interposed therebetween, and having activeposition and a secondary active position, and

automatically operating means for alternately setting said star wheel insaid active positions. CLARENCE W. LINDEMANN.

